thephuse

Aaron Bleepin Boone might have torn his ACL playin basketball, and might miss the entire 2004 season... BASKETBALL!!!

What an idiot.. now the Yankees have no one at 3rd base.. lol

not to mention ruining my plans to have him on my fantasy team... heh..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...acl/index.html

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djtestudo

So...how's Drew Henson looking lately

I'm liking the Orioles' chances more every day...

To make this even more stupid, it was specifically spelled out IN HIS CONTRACT that he was prohibited from playing basketball, and any sport that could risk major injury in general.

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JoeyB

One blast off a knuckleball --regardless of the drama surrounding it-- doesn't forgive this guy being an idiot.

He rarely contributed last year and was lucky to get the money he got this off-season. I have no idea who is out there, but I seriously doubt that the Yanks will start the year with Enrique Wilson, Drew Henson or Miguel Cairo at 3B.

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crewsor

Great, nothing better than the Yankees losing their starting third baseman to a contract voiding basketball injury. Hope he got his 6 mil. of fun during that pickup game. Gotta love it.

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djtestudo

Jose Hernandez is out there. He'll give you some pop, but 8x-10x more Ks then HRs, and bad defense.

They could trade for a 3B, but they'd have to give up Soriano or their one decent prospect, catcher Dioner Navarro.

They are definatly in a bad position here, and I couldn't be happier...

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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

The_Dude

LOL HILARIOUS SHIT!

yankees are going to be soooooooooooo under-manned next year it's not even gonna be funny.

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forseti-6

Hardly. I personally think Aaron Boone was more of an albatross than help. I count Aaron Boone getting injured a blessing. Eric Chavez is on the list of big free agents after 2004, perhaps the Yankees can swing a deal for him.

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thephuse

I think Chavez was one of the main reasons Boone only got a one year deal...

I guess we'll have to do with Drew for this year... he'll be our 8 hitter

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djtestudo

I've heard a report that Chavez said that he would want to go wherever Miguel Tejada went. Since the Orioles will have the money, and the need, and the friend of his, and the young up-and-coming team, he'd go here before NY. Unless of course, Steinbrenner offers 7-140 or some obscene number like that.

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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

Zeld2.0

Well Jason Giambi played with Chavez before and they're friends so I'm guessing that might swing some anyways - and money talks, look at Giambi

As for Boone - well he's hardly an awesome player but there are almost no third basemen out there - and having a big hole suddenly makes things eerily hilarious

And if they ever put someone like Enrique Wilson there - whoa watch out new record for inside the park HRs, triples, and doubles given up, baby

djtestudo

Yes, look at Giambi, especially his knees. Does the money still talk as loud?

Seriously though, The Yankees will have to REALLY overpay to get Chavez. They're on their way down while the Orioles are movin' on up.

Movin' on up (movin' on up)/ The AL East (movin' on up)...

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

wrongfullyaccuzd

What an idiot. Good for him now that he doesn't get his contract. Now that he's gone for the year (possibly), the Yankees' projected fielding percentage for this coming year just tripled.

Zeld2.0

Heh you'd be wrong - Boone was actually a far better fielder than his postseason performance suggest - in fact most people would say to get a shittier offensive 3rd basemen (due to an already incredible lineup) but one that plays solid defense

JoeyB

He's a complete moron....however anyone who thinks that Aaron Boone is the key to the AL East could be disappointed.

I'm more concerned about Giambi's health---everyone else's age and the pitching staff.

Boone? He's just an idiot....counting on Jon Leiber to win 15 games after being out for an entire year?? That's more of a concern.

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JoeyB

The latest is that Gary Sheffield has volunteered to return to the hot corner for the first time since he broke in with the Brewers!

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djtestudo

Good...hopefully he'll end up with the same stats and attitude as in Milwaukee

__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

Vespertine

As if they had a 3rd baseman before he got injured. =P

123dsa

Sheffield will have to move over to the hot corner, cause I heard that Henson is playing football now. As a RedSox fan I have to say that it pains me greatly to see the Yankees going through such tough times.

LSD

JoeyB

The World Series train still runs through the Bronx...I have 2 words for you:


Tyler Houston.



(I think I'm going to be sick)

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BigBlueWrecking

OK...the Yanks have a non All Star caliber player at one position and now the world is ending? Give me a break. Boone is a very good defensive 3baseman (I know he stumbled in the playoffs). He was also an all star for the Reds. He is a good player that had a hard time adjusting for the half of a year he was there.

Next, there are no big time players out there, but Houston or Wilson will be fine. The Yanks have nothing to trade for Chavez, and it looks like if they were to trade for someone it would be Beltre. The Boone trade was a disastor for who we gave up, not so much because of Boone.

Henson will never be an everyday third baseman for the Yanks. His head is ducked up about baseball and he will be in the NFL next year most likely.

djtestudo

The thing is, the Yankees have question marks already, and this is just another. Will Giambi's knees hold up? Will Soriano learn to hit breaking balls thrown by pitchers more advanced then Little Leaguers, or at least not swing at the obvious balls? Will Matsui actually show some power? Will Leiber and Brown stay healthy? Can Leiber and Contraras pitch effectively?

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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

thephuse

These are surely question marks that the Yankees have before the season starts, but its not as if these are question marks unique to the Yanks... Plenty of teams have question marks throughout their teams at this point in the season... if this is even a "point" in the season yet...

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BigBlueWrecking

What is your favorite team? I will list a bunch of question marks on them too. Let me use the Red Sox as an example:

Will Schilling and Pedro stay healthy?

Will all of the players that had career years last year perform again?

What about the loss of Miller to the Cubs?

Will they get a 4th and 5th starter to pitch well?

Will Foulke be the closer he was last year or the closer of a couple years ago when he lost his job?

What effect will the trade rumors have on Manny and Nomar?

Everyteam has question marks, people are making a big deal about this because they ahte the Yankees. It is amazing. This is the same guy people were talking about how bad he was last year and now his being injured is a huge concern?

Don't get me wrong, it hurts...but every team fights with injuries throughout the year. Boone is the everyday player we could most afford to lose for a long period of time if you ask me. Maybe Lofton or Williams, because the are similar, would be...but Boone for the infield without a doubt!

djtestudo

I can already go through the question marks on the Orioles.

Will the young pitchers hold up and reach their potential?

Can Bigbie and Matos last a whole season and become solid outfielders?

Can Gibbons become the all-around hitting threat that he has shown flashes of?

Will Lopez and Palmiero hold off their declines?

Will the bullpen be more like 2002 (lights out) or 2003 (gas on the fire)?

Will Lee Mazilli be an improvement over Mike Hargrove as manager?

I know every team has question marks, but it isn't often that the Yankees start the year with that many.

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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

BigBlueWrecking

I don't agree with that about the Yankees. Lasst year it was how will Clemens and Wells pitch. What about Contreras. Is Weaver still a headcase? Is Giambi healthy? Will Jeter's downward trend continue? How will Matsui do? Is Ventura over the hill? How will Bernie hold up?


Every year they start with question marks, and their question marks are blown out of proportion by people that hate the Yankees.

I will take Javier Vasquez over Pettite this year. I wish we had both, jut Javier is the bette pitcher. Hopefully he can handle NY.

Brown over Clemens no doubt. Clemens did not pitch all that well the second half of the year. Brown, if healthy (and I realize that is an if) is better.

The Yanks bullpen is MUCH better. Without a doubt they are light years ahead there.

Soriano will learn from Mattingly, and he will not hit lead off. That should help the Yanks score more runs. I would hit him 6th or so. My lineup woudl be:

1. Lofton (CF or DH)
2. Jeter (SS)
3. Giambi (1st)
4. Sheffield(OF)
5. Matsui (OF)
6. Soriano (2b)
7. Posada (C)
8. Bernie Williams (OF or DH)
9. Whoever the hell we get to play 3rd


I am sure Torre will hit Bernie firther up, so maybe trade him and posada or even put Soriano 5th with Matsui and Bernie behind him.

Pitchers:

1. Vasquez
2. Mussina
3. Brown
4. Contreras
5. Lieber

They really need another starter that will also play relief if they need it. They may take a look at El Duque again. Also, it would help to pick up a lefty, but you can say that about almost any team. They will most likely sign another guy that is older.

Relief:

Set up:
Gordon
Gabe White
Quantrill
Heredia
Karsay

Closer:

Rrivera

They could use a long relief guy, who also could spot start ala Mendoza from years ago.

BigBlueWrecking

Here is a story from ESPN Insider about the Yanks.


Memo to all those who believe the little speed bumps the Yankees have encountered this offseason are signs that the apocalypse is upon them: it's going to take more than that to tumble this franchise.

The simple fact of the matter is that the Yankees have brought in more talent than they have lost. While it may have been psychologically devastating for Yankee fans to see some of their favorite players sail off into the National League sunset, the fact remains that this is still very much a team to be reckoned with. Those outside of Yankeeland who find themselves rubbing their hands with anticipatory glee are going to have their hearts broken if they invest too much emotional coin in believing a few personnel setbacks are going to be the undoing of this franchise.


The Yankees can overcome the loss of Andy Pettitte.
The Weep: The Yankees lost 75 percent of their 2003 starts. The departures of Roger Clemens, David Wells, Andy Pettitte and Jeff Weaver means that the pitchers who started 120 of New York's 162 games will be in the other league this year. In fact, the only pitchers left on their roster who started a game for them last year are Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras and Jorge DePaula. (The other two starters -- Sterling Hitchcock and Brandon Claussen at one game each -- were shipped out in mid-season.)

The Truth: Pettitte, Wells and Clemens combined for 44 Bill James Win Shares in 2003. Newcomers Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez combined for 41. Yes, Brown's health is a question mark, but the fact is, the Yankees got two pitchers who nearly matched the output of their three lost starters. Yes, it won't quite be the same without the departed heroes, but mercenaries do mercenary things, and it's best to keep a little emotional distance from them so that when they do go off to fight a battle for someone else, their loss will not be so psychologically profound.

The Weep: Aaron Boone's season-ending injury is going to play havoc on the Yankees lineup and defense.

The Truth: Boone arrived on July 31 of last year and the team was at a .623 winning percentage. Boone did not play as well as he had in Cincinnati and did not even really match the performance of his predecessor, Robin Ventura, and the team continued on its merry way, going .625 the rest of the way. In other words, the picture stayed the same with Boone. It can be argued that they will be hard-pressed to come up with a suitable replacement but what is the worst they can expect out of third base? 10 Win Shares? That's not as good as the 15 Ventura and Boone combined for, but it is not the end of the world by any stretch of the imagination. Besides, the Yankees could well turn around and trade to get Ventura back and it seems reasonable to expect him to log 12 to 15 in 2003. He totaled 20 as recently as 2002.

In all, the Yankees lost about 100 Win Shares of 2003 talent this offseason but replaced it with over 120. (Just to make the comparison fair, I included in this 100 the 15 Win Shares assigned to the combination of Ventura and Boone.) In addition to the pitchers mentioned above, gone are the following:

Nick Johnson, 14
Chris Hammond, 7
Karim Garcia, 5
Juan Rivera, 5
Antonio Osuna, 4
Al Reyes, 2
Jeff Nelson, 2
Jeff Weaver, 2

David Dellucci and Randy Choate are gone as well but they failed to register any Win Shares.

To replace them, the Yankees have brought in the following in addition to Vazquez and Brown:

Gary Sheffield, 35
Kenny Lofton, 18
Tom Gordon, 11
Paul Quantrill, 11
Tony Clark, 4
Miguel Cairo, 3


The Yankees brought in plenty of talent this offseason.
Yes, it can be argued that, apart from Vazquez, the new faces are fairly weathered by age and are therefore susceptible to injuries. Much the same can be said about two of the main departed parties (Wells and Clemens) as well. Even Johnson, the most valuable position player lost this offseason, missed a lot of time to the disabled list last year.

Are the Yankees going to win 101 games again this year? They outperformed their projection by four games in 2003, so they would actually have to improve or get just as lucky in 2004 to repeat that feat if everything else held steady. Could they be unseated by the Red Sox? Absolutely. But to think they are going to drop ten games in the standings is a hopeless wish for their detractors and unnecessary self-inflicted pessimism for their supporters. The Yankees have the smarts and the resources to make corrections on the fly as they see fit and this will keep them at the top of their division until such time as George Steinbrenner is called to the great beyond where he will, inevitably, try to run things.

# Skroo Upps (Skroo Upps is a copyrighted feature of this columnist): Yesterday, I mistakenly referred to Aaron Boone as a career second baseman who made the transition to third base smoothly last year. Of course the transition was smooth, Jim -- he played there most of his career! It sure seemed like the right thing to say at the time. I apologize for any confusion my confusion may have caused.

thephuse

yeah.. long relief.. hadnt really thought about that... hrm.. we'll prolly bring up Jorge DePaula

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Bigt6909

there was a rumor of Gary S. playing third.. but obvouisly he can't.. he hasn't played it for 10+ years.. and now Drew Henson is outta there... the Yanks dont have anyone... who's gonna play 3rd?

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djtestudo

Man...and I thought Abbott and Costello were only joking when they said "I Don't Know" is on third

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JoeyB

David Lamb is in the house...start printing the World Series tickets!!!!


I expect them to wait as long as possible during the year and then make a bid for someone near the all-star break. Someone like Corey Koskie perhaps.

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